Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Terre Haute, IN and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $1,899 in Terre Haute, IN, rent and utilities included – about $8,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Terre Haute, IN
🇺🇸 United States
$1,899
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Terre Haute, IN and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Terre Haute, IN and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,899 per month in Terre Haute, IN vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Terre Haute, IN $1,899
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $2,776 per month in Terre Haute, IN vs $2,102 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Terre Haute, IN $2,776
  • Playa del Carmen $2,102

A family of three spends $3,653 per month in Terre Haute, IN vs $3,000 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Terre Haute, IN $3,653
  • Playa del Carmen $3,000

Terre Haute, IN costs about 58% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Terre Haute, IN sits 40% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Terre Haute, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.90 $19.90
$10.86 MX$201
83.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.1 $59.1
$44.21 MX$817
33.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 $9.88
$11.76 MX$217
-15.99%
Cappuccino
$4.92 $4.92
$3.68 MX$68.0
33.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 $2.70
$1.34 MX$24.79
101.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$0.82 MX$15.24
157.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.57 $4.57
$3.06 MX$56.6
49.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 $4.46
$4.94 MX$91.2
-9.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Terre Haute, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.70 $0.70
$1.47 MX$27.17
-52.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 $1.85
$2.22 MX$40.95
-16.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.48 MX$27.32
64.19%
Eggs
$3.29 $3.29
$2.49 MX$45.99
32.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.51 $10.51
$7.52 MX$139
39.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.04 $13.04
$7.96 MX$147
63.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.81 $11.81
$12.57 MX$232
-6.05%
Apples (1kg)
$5.12 $5.12
$2.78 MX$51.3
84.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 $1.50
$1.43 MX$26.37
4.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.62 MX$48.37
24.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$2.14 MX$39.49
129.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.02 MX$37.38
-3.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.99 MX$36.74
23.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.14 MX$21.01
68.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.20 MX$22.18
60.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.24 $8.24
$4.26 MX$78.7
93.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.53 $12.53
$10.02 MX$185
25.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.54 MX$28.41
19.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.66 MX$49.17
-8.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Terre Haute, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 $0.61
$0.53 MX$9.73
15.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.51 MX$508
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 $3.18
$4.90 MX$90.6
-35.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$3.43 MX$63.5
-60.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.87 $24.87
$5.38 MX$99.4
362.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.45 MX$26.76
-42.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K $35.4K
$21.2K MX$391.0K
67.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$23.0K MX$425.3K
14.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terre Haute, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 $197
$85.4 MX$1,577
130.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.00 $38.00
$23.46 MX$434
61.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.9 $61.9
$28.43 MX$525
117.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Terre Haute, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.07 $25.07
$62.2 MX$1,149
-59.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.68 MX$530
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.33 $11.33
$5.10 MX$94.3
122.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Terre Haute, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,657 $1,657
$201 MX$3,715
724.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.9K $31.9K
$3,947 MX$72.9K
709.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Terre Haute, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.87 $31.87
$44.39 MX$820
-28.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.6 $52.6
$41.35 MX$764
27.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$72.7 MX$1,344
39.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.99 $31.99
$89.6 MX$1,656
-64.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Terre Haute, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$945 $945
$979 MX$18.1K
-3.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$812 $812
$373 MX$6,887
117.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,552 $1,552
$1,681 MX$31.1K
-7.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,309 $1,309
$1,095 MX$20.2K
19.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,214 $1,214
$3,949 MX$73.0K
-69.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,222 $1,222
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-80.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Terre Haute, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,239 $3,239
$738 MX$13.6K
339.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.66
11.45
-41.83%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Terre Haute, IN: October 17, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Terre Haute, IN
$812
Playa del Carmen
$373 54.1% $439
Groceries & Markets
Terre Haute, IN
$333
Playa del Carmen
$258 22.5% $75
Eating Out
Terre Haute, IN
$299
Playa del Carmen
$200 33% $99
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terre Haute, IN
$297
Playa del Carmen
$137 53.8% $160
Clothing & Footwear
Terre Haute, IN
$98
Playa del Carmen
$112 14% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Terre Haute, IN
$48
Playa del Carmen
$72 51.7% $25
Getting Around
Terre Haute, IN
$12 *
Playa del Carmen
$52 315% $39

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $945 in Terre Haute, IN versus $979 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 339% higher in Terre Haute, IN, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Terre Haute, IN versus $44.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $333 vs $258 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Terre Haute, IN
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
10:54 10:54 AM
09:54 9:54 AM
1 h behind Terre Haute, IN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
57,259
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Terre Haute, IN Playa del Carmen 2,090 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Terre Haute, IN
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Terre Haute, IN vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Terre Haute, IN?
Yes – Terre Haute, IN is pricier by about 58%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,849 per month in Terre Haute, IN and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Terre Haute, IN and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,899 in Terre Haute, IN and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That's a gap of about 58%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,657 per month in Terre Haute, IN and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Terre Haute, IN or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Terre Haute, IN at $1,899. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Terre Haute, IN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Terre Haute, IN or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Terre Haute, IN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Terre Haute, IN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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